What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-36969?

CVE-2020-36969 has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 (High). CVSS vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.1%.

Is there a public PoC exploit available for CVE-2020-36969?

Yes, a public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2020-36969. Prioritise patching immediately. EPSS: 0.1%.

How to fix or mitigate CVE-2020-36969?

Within 24 hours: Disable M/Monit 3.7.4 if not operationally critical, or restrict access to trusted networks only. Within 7 days: Conduct audit of M/Monit user accounts and review permission modification logs for unauthorized changes; implement network-level access controls (firewall rules, VPN requirements). Within 30 days: Upgrade to a patched version when available from the vendor, or migrate to an alternative monitoring solution; validate all user permissions post-upgrade.

M Monit CVE-2020-36969

HIGH

Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863)

2026-01-28 disclosure@vulncheck.com

Privilege Escalation M Monit Tildeslash

8.8

CVSS 3.1 · NVD

View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness	CWE CWE-863 OWASP Top 10:2025 A01:2025 - Broken Access Control ASVS 5.0 V8 - Authorization Authorization logic validation MITRE ATT&CK 1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. Sign in to read
Impact	CVSS 8.8 (HIGH). Attack vector: Network. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: Low. User interaction: None. Exploitation requires authentication. Public exploit/POC available.
Exploit ScenarioDerived	An attacker (requires authentication) could exploit this vulnerability to modify user permissions by manipulating the admin parameter.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).

No patch listed yet 0.1% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026

M/Monit 3.7.4 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated users to modify user permissions by manipulating the admin parameter. [CVSS 8.8 HIGH]

RemediationAI

Monitor vendor advisories for a patch. Restrict network access to the affected service where possible.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Classified as CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization). Affects M\/Monit. M/Monit 3.7.4 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated users to modify user permissions by manipulating the admin parameter. Attackers can send a POST request to the /api/1/admin/users/update endpoint with a crafted payload to grant administrative access to a standard user account.

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Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH

AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Lifecycle Timeline

PoC Detected

Feb 03, 2026 - 15:44 vuln.today

Public exploit code

CVE Published

Jan 28, 2026 - 18:16 nvd

HIGH 8.8

DescriptionCVE.org

M/Monit 3.7.4 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated users to modify user permissions by manipulating the admin parameter. Attackers can send a POST request to the /api/1/admin/users/update endpoint with a crafted payload to grant administrative access to a standard user account.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

CVE-2020-36969 is a high-severity privilege escalation flaw in M/Monit 3.7.4 that allows authenticated users to illegally elevate their permissions to administrator level. This directly threatens organizational access controls and compliance posture, as attackers with valid credentials can gain administrative privileges without authorization, potentially exposing sensitive monitoring data and system configurations.

Business Impact: High

Compensating Controls

Implement network segmentation to restrict M/Monit access to authorized administrators only; deploy WAF or reverse proxy rules to block admin parameter manipulation in HTTP requests; disable user account creation and permission modification features if not operationally required; enforce multi-factor authentication for all M/Monit accounts; monitor and log all authentication and authorization events in M/Monit for forensic review; isolate M/Monit instance on a restricted VLAN with minimal lateral movement capability.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score

0.1%

Top 78% exploitable

Exploit

POC

Public exploit code exists

Data Quality

4 sources

Confidence: Medium

NVD

CVE.org

EPSS

Exploit-DB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue

Severity HIGH

CISA KEV No

Public POC Yes

EPSS 0.1%

Patch available No

Active threat No

Deciding rule

HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)

What every action level means

Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.

This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.

Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived

Scheduled

Exploitation· derived

Poc

System Exposure· derived

Open

Automatable· derived

Human Impact

High

Priority Score

Low Medium High Critical

KEV: 0

EPSS: 0

CVSS: +44

PoC: +20

Weaponized: 0

Threat intel: 0

Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege Escalation HIGH

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.